Kirwa impressed with level of c*mpet*tion at pre olympics trials
National athletics coach Julius Kirwa is already impressed with the level of competition as the three-day Olympics pre-trials got underway at the Nyayo Stadium yesterday.
The tactician is confident the event will help more athletes to secure olympics qualification with less than two months to the start of the Games in Tokyo, Japan.
“So far we have 91 athletes who have already attained qualifications for the Olympics and since the window for qualification is still open until June 29 we still expect to have more athletes secure slots.
I want to urge all those athletes who have not secured qualification to use this opportunity,” said Kirwa.
With the Africa Senior Championships now planned for the City of Lagos, Nigeria next month, Kirwa says the importance of the three day event has gone a notch higher.
“We are waiting to hear what the selection committee will say in regards to the championships, though I know the results from today to Satuday will play a key role in the teams we shall be sending to Nigeria,” said Kirwa.
The veteran tactician said the competition is presenting an opportunity to athletes who have not attained the Olympic qualification times ahead of the main trial penciled for June 17-19.
Besides meeting standard, Kirwa says the Championships will also provide an opportunity for coaches to assess fitness levels of athletes some of whom have not competed for long owing to the pandemic.
“With limited competitions abroad, most of our athletes have not gauged themselves for long period and this will also give an opportunity to us (coaches) to find out where we are before the main trials,” he said.
Kirwa making revelations that only athletes that have attained Olympic qualifying times will compete at the main trials with the top three athletes set to earn direct tickets at the Games set to run between July 23 and August 8.
